Showing 1–16 of 64 results
Rū is a famous Cook Islands explorer and navigator.
He loved discovering new places.
One day he set out on a journey that nearly ended in disaster but instead ended in a blessing.
Find out what happened in Ki Mua! Ki Mua!- a bilingual legend from Aitutaki.
Have you ever missed your family so much it makes you sad?
That’s what happened to Va’ine and she had to make the toughest decision of her life.
Find out what happened next in Va’ine the Mōmoke, a bilingual legend from Rarotonga.
“Nailed to the mast are the colours of Io, the Hidden One.
Our goal is Savaiki, so let her be swift, let her prow sing
as it slices the skin of the sea.”
Our Goal is Savaiki is a collection of poems by Cook Islands-Kiwi poet Alistair Te Ariki Campbell. The poems selected celebrate Alistair’s connections to Tongareva (Penrhyn) where his mother, Teu, was born.
Each poem has been illustrated by Heimata Tinipese (Pese) Kietonga, an emerging Cook Islands artist who is family to Alistair, or Papa Teariki, as her family knows him.
Look inside the book by clicking here:
“Reading is as important as feeling the sun on your face,” says award-winning singer Che Fu. In The Reading Tribe, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, rugby legend Sir Richie McCaw, writer Selina Tusitala Marsh and 24 other prominent Kiwis talk about how important reading has been in their lives. They share the books they loved as children, books that helped them succeed in their chosen fields, and books they want you to read … because reading them would be like feeling the sun on your face.
South Auckland-based teacher-writer, David Riley, wrote The Reading Tribe to inspire young readers to pick up a book, to let them know that the coolest Kiwis love a good read – whether it’s a graphic novel, a page-turning thriller, an inspiring biography, or a childhood favourite.
Look inside the book by clicking here:
There’s lots of different ways to catch fish. You can use a net, a trap, even your hands. Characters in this story used a magic hook to catch more fish than they’d ever seen. That’s when the trouble began. Find out what happens next in Hooked – a Samoan legend retold by David Riley and translated into Samoan by Rasela Lafaele Uili.
Look inside the book by clicking here:
Malie was born with deformed feet. Some people might think that’s a disability. Not Malie.
Find out how his deformed feet became his superpower in Malie is Ma’alahi – ‘Oku Ma‘alahi ‘a Malie!.
A Tongan legend retold by David Riley and translated into Tongan by Vasilini Finau Faletau.
Look inside the book by clicking here:
Koromaūariki had a close relationship with his dad, the legendary superhero, Tinirau. But there was one thing that bothered him. Sometimes Tinirau would wake up in the middle of the night, go outside … and disappear for three days.
When he came home he’d dance into the house wearing a fresh, colourful and fragrant pandanus seed necklace. What was going on?
Find out in Night of the Dance – Pō o te ‘Ura, a Cook Islands legend retold by David Riley and translated into Cook Islands Māori by Mareta Tere.
Look inside the book by clicking here:
Fire is one of the most precious elements we know. You can cook with it. You can dry things with it. You can even sit around it and tell stories like this one. But how did fire get to Samoa? Find out in Playing With Fire – a Samoan legend retold by David Riley and translated into Samoan by Rasela Lafaele Uili.
Look inside the book by clicking here:
Naua was an expert fisherman who found an underwater cave. Naua had a feeling his cave would be helpful one day. And so it did.
Find out what happened in The Secret Cave – Koe ‘Ana Fakapulipulí,
A Tongan legend retold by David Riley and translated into Tongan by Vasilini Finau Faletau.
Look inside the book by clicking here:
Ina is a Cook Islands heroine and superhero, famous throughout Oceania for her mighty deeds. In this story, Ina faces the biggest challenge of her life. Is it a human-eating giant? No. A tree-crushing cyclone? Kā‘ore. Then it must be an island-flooding tsunami? Not even close. Ina’s biggest challenge was a lot closer to home … and one that almost all of us can relate to.
Find out in Tapa of Love – a Cook Islands legend retold by David Riley and translated into Cook Islands Māori by Mareta Tere.
Look inside the book by clicking here:
Pai and Vau are Nanumea superheroes who created beautiful things in our world. One day a stranger named Tefolaha came to their island. “This is now my island,” he declared and challenged them to a contest. What kind of contest did he dream up? What would Pai and Vau do if they lost? Find out in The Gifts of Pai and Vau, a Nanumea legend retold by David Riley, and translated into Nanumean by Siliga Tala.
Look inside the book by clicking here:
Mataginifale is a Niue superhero with a difference. She isn’t known for her super powers, but for her super creativity. One day she had an argument with a whale that tested her thinking skills too. Find out what happened in The Artist and the Whale, a Niue legend retold by David Riley and translated into Vagahau Niue by Elviso Togiamua.
Look inside the book by clicking here:
Taro is one of the most popular foods in Samoa. You can bake it and eat it with palusami. You can boil it and eat it with coconut cream. You can even fry it and make taro chips. But how did taro get to Samoa? Find out in Who stole my taro? – a Samoan legend retold by David Riley and translated into Samoan by Rasela Lafaele Uili.
Look inside the book by clicking here:
A Tongan legend retold by David Riley and translated into Tongan by Julienne Faletau.
Maui threw his line and hook into the ocean. He felt the hook catch onto something huge and heavy. “Wow, it’s beautiful!” Maui said. What amazing sight did Maui see in the ocean that day?
Look inside the book by clicking here:
Joy Cowley is one of New Zealand’s most beloved writers. She’s written books for all ages and won lots of awards. But you wouldn’t have thought that could happen if you’d known Joy at primary school. That’s because she struggled with literacy as a child and couldn’t even read back then. A challenging family situation made life even harder for this future Kiwi legend.
What helped Joy overcome these obstacles and become the icon she is today? Stories did.
Find out how in Joy Cowley: Kiwi Storyteller.
“I am amazed at the breadth and depth of the research. David shows a real understanding of the children he teaches. That makes me feel very happy about the book. David has it right. This is my life.” Joy Cowley.
Look inside the book by clicking here:
Eight year old Donna comes home from school one day with a book so heavy, she can hardly lift it! “This book is so interesting,” she says to her mum and nanna. “It tells how people invented cool things. Maybe I’ll do something cool too one day.”
Donna did grow up to do cool things. She’s the first Samoan neuroscientist in history. This pioneering Pasifikan uses her knowledge, creativity, and bravery to help solve problems in our world.
Find out more
in Dr Donna Rose Addis: Samoan Neuroscientist.
Look inside the book by clicking here:
